XML-based Web services standards have simplified integration with open Internet protocols and given machines an enhanced ability to communicate. Developers are striving to tap into the depth of mutual understanding that can be culled from the Web?s diverse content to provide a vast increase in available services.
Dealing with this flood of options will require sweeping automation. To meet this challenge, the authors built their smart office task automation framework—SOTA—using Web services, an ontology, and agent components.